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A total of 72 innovations and 105 individuals were nominated for the 2018 Millennium Technology Prize by the nomination deadline. Health technology, biomedicine and materials and process technology received the most nominations.

Most of the nominations were from Europe, followed by the United States. Candidates were nominated most actively by universities and research institutions, while companies were somewhat more active than before. The nomination period was from 3 April to 31 July 2017, during which research institutions, universities and companies from around the world could suggest candidates for the prize.

The jury will evaluate the candidates and propose a winner

The nominees will be thoroughly evaluated during the autumn and winter. The evaluation will be carried out by the independent Millennium Technology Prize Selection Committee, the members of which represent a comprehensive range of technological fields. Following the evaluation process, the Selection Committee will make its proposal to the Board of Technology Academy Finland, which will decide the winner.

The new Chair of the Selection Committee is Päivi Törmä, who is a professor at Aalto University. She assumed her position last spring. “It is an honour to reward scientific work that has made a significant contribution to humankind. Personally, I find it also interesting to learn about technology outside my own field.”

The winner of the 2018 Millennium Technology Prize will be announced on 22 May 2018.

The Millennium Technology Prize is Finland’s tribute to innovations for a better life. The Prize is worth one million euros and it is awarded every second year. The purpose of the Prize is to further encourage high-quality research and development of the winning innovation. The prize is not a life-time achievement award. Finland’s great strength is a pragmatic and solution oriented approach, which the Millennium Technology Prize also promotes. The Millennium Technology Prize is awarded by Technology Academy Finland TAF. Aalto University is a strategic partner of TAF.

More information:
Päivi Törmä, Chair of the Selection Committee, Aalto University, tel. +358 50 382 6770
Ari Ahonen, President and CEO, Technology Academy Finland TAF, tel. +358 400 618 300

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